I’m sure many people will list MPs as their ‘Lib Dem Stars of the Year’ but I’d like to pay tribute to some other people without whom our movement would be much poorer.

Starting with my colleagues in Hinckley and Bosworth-the largest Lib Dem-run authority in the Midlands-led so ably by Councillor Stuart Bray, and to our excellent PPC, Cllr Michael Mullaney who gave two terrific speeches at Conference in Glasgow, one against the Bedroom Tax and the other on the importance of jobs. That’s my kind of prospective MP.

Next, to everyone in the Social Liberal Forum, especially our Co-Chairs, the excellent Naomi Smith and Gareth Epps and our Director Prateek Buch; we might not win all of the battles we take on but more often than not we make the political weather within the Party and remain its beating heart.

This leads on to my next Star, Linda Jack.

A controversial figure to some, no doubt, but also someone who genuinely cares and who shares with me the flame of injustice and the belief that we can make a better world.

Linda has been so encouraging to me and, has once again been a brave and passionate advocate for what we both believe in this year.

And, finally, five young rising stars of our Party who are set to have big futures:

Joshua Dixon, the Membership Development Officer of SLF, who is just one of the nicest people I know and committed to the cause of Social Liberal politics;

Callum Morton, who gave a brilliant speech at Conference in Glasgow and is the best advocate for further education and apprenticeships that we have in our Party.

Paul Hindley, who is my political brother, a fellow Social Liberal, a thoroughly nice bloke, and a true Champion of ensuring we have a laser-like focus on looking after the poorest and most vulnerable in our Society.

Matt Whittles, with whom I recently co-founded Fairtrade Future, the new Fairtrade movement in the Lib Dems, who has a real heart for improving the lives of the World’s poorest people.

And, James Moore, who does so much for the Party over in Reading, and is one of the Party’s best Campaigners.

* Mathew Hulbert is a parish Councillor in Leicestershire.